AFTERCARE News
BOX SMART
ROUND 3
ROUND 3
Boxing clever at drug rehabilitation programme
By Mary Dennehy - Tallaght Echo
A PROGRESSIVE drug rehabilitation programme is taking to the ring this week and
providing Tallaght people in recovery with an opportunity to change their lives through
education and high performance sport.
On Wednesday, October 15 participants pulled on their gloves in preparation for Box
Smart, a pioneering 20-week drug rehabilitation programme which strives to re-integrate
participants into mainstream society through a FETAC Level 4 in Health-Related Fitness –
theory which is teamed with high performance training and boxing skills.
The brainchild of the Tallaght-Wide Aftercare Service, a branch of Tallaght Rehabilitation
Project, Box Smart will be based across two learning campuses – Sacred Heart Boxing Club
for training and Kiltalown House in Jobstown for theory.
Michael Williams, Tallaght-Wide Aftercare supervisor, told The Echo: “We’re all really
excited about the programme, we’ve been working on it for the past two years and really
see the value it can bring to people in recovery.
“Alongside providing participants with adult education opportunities the programme hopes to
dispel myths that people in recovery are lazy or have educational limits.
“That’s why we chose boxing, it’s one of the hardest sports known to man.
“We hope that alongside creating work opportunities, Box Smart will instil a life-long
respect for keeping fit and eating healthy – alongside boosting participant’s self-belief and confidence.”
Michael, who is a boxer himself, added:
“Sport and recreation is so important for people in recovery, not just for its health benefits but socially.
“This course has the potential to really changed people’s lives and give them
qualifications for an industry [health and fitness]that is really taking off in Ireland.”
Box Smart is funded by the Tallaght Drugs and Alcohol Task Force and South Dublin
County Sports Partnership, with training kits sponsored by Nitro Sports.
“We have a kit for each participant, which will give them a chance to be part of team”, Michael
said.
“The training is not competitive but they will learn to support each other as they go along.”
Some 15 participants, who were referred from community drug projects from right across Tallaght, started training in Sacred Heart on Wednesday.
For further information on Box Smart call the Tallaght Wide Aftercare Service on (01) 4597705
providing Tallaght people in recovery with an opportunity to change their lives through
education and high performance sport.
On Wednesday, October 15 participants pulled on their gloves in preparation for Box
Smart, a pioneering 20-week drug rehabilitation programme which strives to re-integrate
participants into mainstream society through a FETAC Level 4 in Health-Related Fitness –
theory which is teamed with high performance training and boxing skills.
The brainchild of the Tallaght-Wide Aftercare Service, a branch of Tallaght Rehabilitation
Project, Box Smart will be based across two learning campuses – Sacred Heart Boxing Club
for training and Kiltalown House in Jobstown for theory.
Michael Williams, Tallaght-Wide Aftercare supervisor, told The Echo: “We’re all really
excited about the programme, we’ve been working on it for the past two years and really
see the value it can bring to people in recovery.
“Alongside providing participants with adult education opportunities the programme hopes to
dispel myths that people in recovery are lazy or have educational limits.
“That’s why we chose boxing, it’s one of the hardest sports known to man.
“We hope that alongside creating work opportunities, Box Smart will instil a life-long
respect for keeping fit and eating healthy – alongside boosting participant’s self-belief and confidence.”
Michael, who is a boxer himself, added:
“Sport and recreation is so important for people in recovery, not just for its health benefits but socially.
“This course has the potential to really changed people’s lives and give them
qualifications for an industry [health and fitness]that is really taking off in Ireland.”
Box Smart is funded by the Tallaght Drugs and Alcohol Task Force and South Dublin
County Sports Partnership, with training kits sponsored by Nitro Sports.
“We have a kit for each participant, which will give them a chance to be part of team”, Michael
said.
“The training is not competitive but they will learn to support each other as they go along.”
Some 15 participants, who were referred from community drug projects from right across Tallaght, started training in Sacred Heart on Wednesday.
For further information on Box Smart call the Tallaght Wide Aftercare Service on (01) 4597705
